JAY TYSON
Jean Yvonne (Jay) Tyson (they/them) is a multidisciplinary designer for screen and stage based in Los Angeles. Their primary interests center around challenging and re-conceptualizing familiar narratives, exploring the relationship between art, music, design, and psychology.
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While studying at Whitman College, their scenic and costume work received critical recognition through the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, including the Regional and National Awards for Excellence in Scenic Design (2020), a position as the Francis Starr Todd Design Fellow with the Seven Devil's Playwrights Conference (2020), and an internship with the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas' summer training program (2021). They also wrote, directed, shot, and edited several short narrative films as well as a documentary that went on to be shown in festivals.
After graduating magna cum laude with a BA in theatre and film & media studies in 2021, they joined UCLA’s graduate school of Theatre, Film, and Television to pursue production design. There, they further developed a variety of skills such as graphic design, physical and digital model-making, rendering concept art, drafting, researching, and communicating rich worldbuilding.
Concurrently, they continued designing theatrical productions, such as the world premiere of the Richard Danielpour’s opera The Grand Hotel Tartarus directed by Peter Kazaras as well as Tell Me I’m Gorgeous (At the End of the World) directed by David H. Parker.
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In addition to assisting, designing, or helping with the construction/painting of 30+ plays, musicals, and operas in academic theater, they have designed for square product theater in Colorado (2022) and Pacific Resident Theater in Los Angeles (2024).
Education​​
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June 2025 Master of Fine Arts
Scenic & Production Design, University of California Los Angeles
December 2021 Bachelor of Arts
Theatre / Film & Media Studies, Whitman College
June 2021 Summer Training Program
Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas​​​​
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Film Productions
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Guilt (2023; production designer, SFX makeup) Los Angeles, CA
Love Poem (2023; assistant art director) UCLA, CA
The Most Dangerous Stage (10 minutes; 2022; producer, director, cinematographer, editor) Walla Walla, WA
- Louth International Film Festival, Ireland
- Finalist in Best Student Documentary (Angeles Documentaries)
A Place Like No Other (6 minutes; 2022; writer, producer, director, DP, editor, production & costume designer) Walla Walla, WA
Dead End (3 minutes; 2022; writer, producer, director, cinematographer, editor) Walla Walla, WA
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The Bling (Ear)Ring (3 minutes; 2022; writer, producer, director, cinematographer, editor) Walla Walla, WA​​​​​​​
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Theatre & Opera Productions
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Sweeney Todd - UPCOMING Associate Props Designer La Mirada Theatre 2025
Dir. Jason Alexander
Demolition - PREMIERE Scenic Designer Pacific Resident Theater 2024
Dir. Max Mayer
The Grand Hotel Tartarus - PREMIERE Scenic & Props Designer Freud Theatre, UCLA 2024
Dir. Peter Kazaras
Tell Me I'm Gorgeous at Scenic & Props Designer 1340 Black Box, UCLA 2023
the End of the World Dir. David H. Parker
Into the Woods Asst. Scenic Designer Little Theatre, UCLA 2023
Dir. Judy Moreland
Dance Nation Scenic & Props Designer, ATLAS B2 Center 2022
Master Carpenter, Scenic Charge Dir. Gleason Bauer
The Revolutionists Asst. Scenic Designer Freimann Studio, Whitman College 2021
Dir. Christopher Petit
(Unrealized) Sweeney Todd Scenic Design Thesis Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2021
Dir. N/A
Chekhov's Farces Asst. Scenic Designer Freimann Studio, Whitman College 2020
Dir. Christopher Petit
Ripe Frenzy Scenic & Projection Designer Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2019
Dir. Emily K. Harrison
MMMM Co-Costume Designer Freimann Studio, Whitman College 2019
Choreographer: Peter de Grasse
Playing With Fire (After Frankenstein) Asst. Props Designer Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2019
Dir. Annaliese Baker
Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry Amphitheatre, Whitman College 2019
Dir. Grace Sanwald
Life is a Dream Asst. Scenic Designer Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2019
Dir. Carlos Vargas-Salgado
Desiderata Actor, Props Designer Nancy Simon Studio, Whitman College. 2019
Dir. Grace Sanwald
Red Asst. Scenic Designer Freimann Studio, Whitman College 2019
Dir. Donovan Olsen
Big Love Asst. Scenic Designer Freimann Studio, Whitman College 2018
Dir. Christopher Petit
Instant Play Festival Actor Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2018
Dir. Sabina Rogers, Antonio Tharp
Spring Awakening Props Designer, Ensemble Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2018
Dir. Andrea Andresakis
One Act Play Festival Props Designer Freimann Studio, Whitman College 2018
Multiple Directors
Sonnets for an Old Century Actor Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2017
Dir. Anthony Reale
You Can’t Take It With You Props Designer Alexander Stage, Whitman College 2017
Dir. Kenn Watt ​​
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Awards & Honors
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2022 John H. and Patricia W. Mitchell Fellowship University of California Los Angeles
2020 National Award for Excellence in Scenic Design KCACTF National Conference
2020 Cherry Production Award for Outstanding Service in a Technical Field Whitman College
​2020 Barbizon National Award for Excellence in Scenic Design KCACTF Region 7
2020 Meritorious Achievement Award for Costume Design KCACTF Region 7
2020 Meritorious Achievement Award for Scenic Design KCACTF Region 7
2020 George R. Caldwell Undergraduate Scholarly Paper Meritorious Achievement KCACTF Region 7
2019 Cherry Production Award for Outstanding Service in a Technical Field Whitman College
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Work Experience
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Teaching Assistant, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA January 2023 - present
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Assisted in teaching different groups of students how to properly and safely use various tools; how to approach and apply different painting techniques on season productions; how to load-in, touch up, and strike sets; how to properly clean, organize, and store inventory in a working production shop; and supervised all duties assigned by the shop foreman.
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Scene Shop Manager, Harper Joy Theatre, Walla Walla, WA January 2022 - May 2022
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Was hired by Whitman College’s Harper Joy Theatre to return after graduating to be the production shop manager responsible for assisting in training new students, assisting in the creation of sets as well as lighting hangs/strikes, monitoring scheduling, creating safety demonstration videos and otherwise updating safety information, being a liaison between the scene shop and student production teams during the One Act Play Festival, and sitting in for the technical director during some evening rehearsals.
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Scene Shop Employee, Harper Joy Theatre, Walla Walla, WA September 2018 - December 2021
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Assisted with the creation of over 16 productions for Whitman College’s Harper Joy Theatre. Trained student employees. Led crews in painting sets as a scenic charge. Learned carpentry and set construction, metal work, upholstery, repair, and props construction. Used manual and power tools, installed/struck sets, helped renovate the shop.
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Box Office Attendant, Harper Joy Theatre, Walla Walla, WA May 2017 - December 2021
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Acted as house manager, ushered, sold tickets, worked will call, assisted with postering, and opened/closed the theatre
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Volunteer, IDEA Stages, June 2020- present
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Served as an administrator and moderator for the IDEAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Stage) facebook group with over 2.4k members
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Created posts with content and discussions that focused on antiracism, creating safe spaces, promoting underrepresented artists, education around equity and safety, discussing language and inclusivity, and more
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Francis Starr Todd Fellowship, Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, Summer 2020
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Collaborated with theatre artists as they further developed new plays, providing a different perspective and using virtual design meetings to engage the physical world of the play
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Produced sketches and collages based off of the conversations had in design meetings
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Worked alongside Skip Mercier, who led the virtual design meetings for You Will Get Sick by Noah Diaz, The Killing Fields by Anya Pearson, and The Alligator Gospels by Matt Pelfrey
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Led the virtual design meetings for The Birth of the Pill by Jessica Huang, The Hero and the Scholar by Marshall Botvinick, and Madam Euphoria Reveals Your Future by Jenny Sternling
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More info in this article or through the conference website
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Photographer, freelance, March 2014 - present
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Most recently: was a volunteer photographer for the Jane Goodall Institute at San Pedro's Day of Peace Event ft. Jane Goodall (2024)
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Worked as a freelance photographer for modeling portfolios, album covers, birthdays, community events, private photoshoots, and more
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Photographed musicians such as Joan Jett, Joss Stone, Michael Franti & Spearhead, JD McPherson, etc.
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Department Liaison, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA September 2019- May 2021
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Nominated to represent both the Theatre and Film & Media Studies departments
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Answered questions about the majors, helped students connect with the departments and professors, and assisted aspiring majors in creating a plan for their classes
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Moderated online Discord forums for new and interested students when COVID-19 struck
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Interviewed actor Patrick Page during the height of the pandemic as part of a guest artists series
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Sales Clerk, Hot Poop Stereo and Video, Walla Walla, WA September 2017 - April 2018 & July - August 2021
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Assisted customers, organized stock, cleaned/tuned instruments, installed video equipment, delivered equipment, and more
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Sold records, CDs, clothing, equipment, and instruments
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Drama Club Vice President, Publicity Chair, & Historian, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, May 2019 - May 2021
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Worked with the club to create Q&As, videos, and other methods of communications when classes moved online
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Created a website for the theatre's annual drama banquet when the live event was cancelled due to COVID-19
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Assisted in setting up and representing the theatre during activities fairs
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Radio Host, KWCW, Walla Walla, WA, September 2016 - December 2017
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Jumpstarted, hosted, and promoted the radio shows "Blues, Rock, and Other Jazz" and "Scores of Our Lives"
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Organized and conducted interviews with musicians Sista Jean and Jonah Nimoy
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Selected music, arranged playlists, and scripted or improvised dialogue connecting content and teaching a bit of music history
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Skills​
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Visual Arts: Drawing & painting (digital & traditional); theatrical scenic painting; digital photography & photo editing;, videography & video editing;
scale model making; graphic design; clay sculpting
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Software: Adobe - Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Lightroom; Procreate; Rhino; AutoCAD; Twinmotion; Unreal Engine; Maya; GarageBand; MuseScore;
QLab; Microsoft Suite
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Technical: Operation of a variety of power and hand tools; basic upholstery, furniture repair, sewing, plasma cutting, stained glass making; gilding; foam carving;
genie operation; basic EOS light board control; basic projection mapping and design; fly system operation
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Other: USA & EU Citizenship; research & pitching; writing & editing; interviewing & radio hosting; driving, sailing, western horsemanship
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Film References
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Mark Worthington Rachel Robb Kondrath Robert Sickels
Production Designer Production Designer Filmmaker & Author
markworthington@pacbell.net rrkondrath@gmail.com sickelrc@whitman.edu
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Theatre & Opera References
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Myung Hee Cho Emily K. Harrison Nate Tomsheck
Scenic Designer Producing Artistic Dir. Technical Director
mcho@tft.ucla.edu emilykharrison@hotmail.com tomshena@whitman.edu